Federal Ban on All Cell Phone Use While Driving Proposed For US

[Beardface]

I'm all for a law that bans texting while operating a moving vehicle. All for it. (i.e. you can do it in a car, as long as you're either at a stoplight or stopsign, or pulled over). Its incredibly dangerous, and takes 95% of the attention of the driver away from driving. However, to go as far as banning all cellphone use in cars? Way, way too far. Cellphones have gone beyond just the talk and text that they were in the past. Now, they're also music players as well as GPS devices, among others that might not be relevant to driving. Too many important things are on a phone that would impact the efficiency of driving by eliminating ALL use in cars, that it doesn't make sense to do so.

Plus, if you eliminate all use in cars, including talking (and hands free), then shouldn't that also carry over to CB radio? You can't tell me emergency responders aren't distracted when talking on those. How about the industries that have grown BECAUSE they're able to be on call, answer their phone, and quickly get on site for an appointment (taxis, repair, maintenance, sales, realtors, etc)? Those industries would be severely hurt by passing a law like this.

 

[RyanPm40]

Honestly, I don't see the big deal about talking on the phone in the car. It's not really distracting (to me anyways...). I do it, my parents do it, and everyone I know does it. Texting, on the other hand, is dangerous and should be illegal.

Also, to people saying that due to being an adult, they should be able to make the decision of what they do in their car or not: Don't you realize that you could end up killing someone else on the road and not just yourself?h

 

[Ollie]

This would have to go a step further if you were allowed to be hands free. Radio makers would have to be forced to require Bluetooth components in all of their newest head units and vehicle manufacturers would have to build in mics and steering wheel controls (I have this in my vehicle and it works seamlessly) Otherwise, it will never stop. Voice activation is far enough along where you don't even have to touch your phone anymore.

I'm really anti-big brother, but this is out of control.

The man pushing this has not made it clear yet if hands free would be allowed. Ironically, last year he shot this down.

 

[bens42608]

I'm guilty of sending a quick text while sitting at a red light but I am so sick of these old people not watching where they're going and cutting me off/doing half the speed limit/sitting at the red light and I look n they're trying to text or they're blabbing on the phone. If people could type a quick text or voice command while being careful, this wouldn't be an issue but people are not smart. The thing I hate most is the old people that just learned how to text n they're driving while staring at their phone, concentrating on figuring out how to send a text. If you can't be cool n do it real quick, then u need to wait until you get out the car. I don't allow my ma to text while I'm in her car, although it wouldn't bother.me if it was one of my friends. Besides for the fact that I care about my ma getting hurt more than mmy friends- I just don't think anyone over 30 has any business trying to mult-task driving with any new fangled hardware lol
As for talking; that should be fine but now its not because of all the old people that can't use their brain to talk while concentrating on the road- their speech takes brain priority over driving

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[jntdroid]

Jungle King - I'm right there with you.

If I'm alone and pick up my cell phone to answer or place a call, I make an intentional effort to be more aware of what's going on around me, and while I'm using the phone, I make an intentional effort to focus more on the road and my surroundings than the call - to the point where, often, I'll have to say something like "hey say that again, I was *insert driving action here*".

If I'm driving and not using my cell phone, I tend to be more comfortable in my environment - especially if I'm listening to talk radio or something that tends to engage my mind in a subtle manner. Heck, even if I'm using a BT earpiece I'm more complacent and more distracted.

A part of this practice is b/c the awareness of the danger of talking on the phone is spread constantly, and therefore at the forefront of "issues" when it comes to driving distractions.

The underlying problem with cellphones is that they engage us in a conversation with a party outside of our car's environment. That's why conversations with people in your car are, statistically, less distracting. Therefore, the underlying problem with talking on a cellphone is where one places his/her mental focus.

I can understand the reasoning behind this law as it's a "hot topic" issue in our society (and our lawmakers tend to like to stay in office, and therefore focus on issues that are "hot topics"). I'm not even necessarily against it, b/c I feel like most people get on the phone and let themselves be swallowed up in their conversation, ignoring the world around them. However, I worry that once they clamp down on this, what will be next?

 

[aaf709]

Talk about serendipity, take a look at today's The Big Picture...



Most, if not all, of my calls (via BT) are very short and more like:

Me- "I'm almost there"

Them- "OK"

Me- "Bye"

 

[Einsteindks]

If folks wouldn't drive so close, properly adjust their outside mirrors, stop treating the act of driving as a contest, actually DRIVE instead of just plain 'go somewhere', give driving it's true priority when multi-tasking, we'd have far FAR fewer accidents. Ban cell phone use? May as well ban every non-driving act, for they ALL 'distract' the driver. And isn't the act of opperating a motor vehicle multi-tasking in itself? This whole thing started with the advent of the automatic transmission. It's time we give our spare hand something worthwhile to do -- shifting gears!

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[bens42608]

If folks wouldn't drive so close, properly adjust their outside mirrors, stop treating the act of driving as a contest, actually DRIVE instead of just plain 'go somewhere', give driving it's true priority when multi-tasking, we'd have far FAR fewer accidents. Ban cell phone use? May as well ban every non-driving act, for they ALL 'distract' the driver. And isn't the act of opperating a motor vehicle multi-tasking in itself? This whole thing started with the advent of the automatic transmission. It's time we give our spare hand something worthwhile to do -- shifting gears!

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There's a few other things u could be doing with that spare hand lmao I'm sorry but I had to say that :/

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[Vulcan1600]

Just a friendly reminder. This is a tough topic to respond to without being political, but please be careful what you post because if it bashes a candidate or the President, it will be deleted. I know we all have our beliefs and options (I certainly do) but please keep it inside the rules - political discussions are off-limits.

 

[silverfang77]

My belief is government should stay out of people's private affairs as long as what the person does isn't dangerous to others. Distracted driving is a hazard and a menace to everyone on the road and doesn't fall into the category of private affairs.

 

[anewton]

Apparently you did not read my post. I can absolutely guarantee that I am less distracted with a cell phone than without. This is not opinion or up for you to tell me differently. Have you been in a car with me? If not,how can you say what does or does not distract me? If you want to argue that people in general are more distracted on the phone, that i can agree with but my post was simply stating that I personally am more focused on the road on a phone than without.

Because...you're somehow BETTER than everyone else, and the usual rules don't apply to you. We get it... (rolls eyes)

 

[jntdroid]

Because...you're somehow BETTER than everyone else, and the usual rules don't apply to you. We get it... (rolls eyes)

It has nothing to do with being better. It's simply realizing you're on the phone and making an effort to focus more on your surroundings than on your phone conversation.

sent from my phone

 

[Jungle King 76]

It has nothing to do with being better. It's simply realizing you're on the phone and making an effort to focus more on your surroundings than on your phone conversation.

sent from my phone

Glad someone gets it. Too many less intelligent users just make smart remarks when they can't comprehend something.

See your other list and you captured exactly what I was saying. I never did I was better or whatever, just that if I am alone in the car I tend to get complacent and less focused.

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[Josefius]

I hope this goes through, so annoying in traffic. Too many morons who don't at least use a Bluetooth headset. I don't know how many times I've seen people driving at night looking down at their phone in their lap face illuminated not watching the road.

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[Ziggie]

Glad someone gets it. Too many less intelligent users just make smart remarks when they can't comprehend something.

See your other list and you captured exactly what I was saying. I never did I was better or whatever, just that if I am alone in the car I tend to get complacent and less focused.

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The sad thing is you just don't get it.

Ridiculous statements about increased levels of concentration because of cellphone usage does not make it true.

Driving while on the phone is more distracting than driving without being on the phone.

Find a study anywhere that states otherwise.

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